ALDAC hosts its annual Black and White Evening

The Arrow Lakes and District Arts Council (ALDAC) held its annual Black and White event at the Royal Canadian Legion on Nov.14.

Attendants were encouraged to come wearing clothing that was black, white, or a little bit of both.

The doors opened at 6:30 p.m. and soft music played through the speaker. Food and sweets were free, but tickets for alcoholwere $5 each.

Small tables dotted the hall, most seating three or four, but some were able to seat six. The tables were decorated with either ablack or white table cloth, and each table had a white candle in a glass, and an empty wine bottle which held a balloon of eitherblack or white.

The stage held the artwork, which would be auctioned off later in the evening. People were free to check out the artwork beforethe bidding took place.

Among the pieces being auctioned off were a number of works from local artist Karen Dubreuil, a photograph by Rosie Lukenda,and a hand-crafted cloak by Pamela Oneil.

This is the third Black and White event hosted by the council, and the first one not chaired by local artist Deborah Rushfelt.

“She’s going back to her art, so the rest of us in the council had to pick it up and go with it,” said Marilyn Massey, one of thechairs on the council.

“It’ had sort of a transition period, but I’m sure that once we get it reorganized it’s going to take off again.”

This year, a total of 26 pieces were auctioned off.

“We approach individuals and ask if they’d like to volunteer and offer us an art piece that we can auction off. I’ve talked toseveral who are not here tonight, but are going to start working on artwork for next year.” said Massey.

There were several popular pieces, but the one that drew the highest bids was the final lot of the auction, Pamela Oneil’s hand-crafted cloak.

“I figured either everybody would want it, or nobody would want it. I was a bit apprehensive going in,” she said. “I was quitesurprised in some ways, because I saw some of the exhibits coming through, and I knew the hard work that goes into painting.”

Oneil says her experience with the evening has made her excited to do this again next year.